LAHORE, July 25: The composite matric examination system will be revived from 2007. The decision was taken at the inter-province committee of education ministers here on Monday. It was presided over by Federal Education Minister Javaid Ashraf Qazi and attended by Education Ministers of Punjab, Imran Masood, NWFP’s Fazal Ali Haqqani, Balochistan’s Maulana Abdul Wahid, Sindh’s Dr Hameeda Khuro and federal and provincial secretaries.

Javed Arshraf Qazi said holding of separate matric and intermediate examinations had increased the number of examinations, creating problems owing to examination duties of teachers. He said the combined examination system was in the best interest of students as they faced problems in the current part system.

The federal minister said the decision regarding the commencement of the educational year from Sept 1 would be taken soon and all examinations of all disciplines would be held in summer vacation. However, the northern and other hilly areas might choose the academic year by keeping in view the weather conditions, he added.

Mr Qazi said the steps would result in enhancement in study time period and students would rid of tuition menace also. He said a committee would also be constituted to review the national curriculum and it would suggest measures to fulfil the needs of modern era in accordance with the national interest.

He said the national curriculum would be reviewed and changed after five years. The federal minister said subjects like history and geography would be introduced in class-IV from next year. For the promotion of technical education, Tevta would be developed at the national level so that skilled manpower could be produced for industries.

The meeting also commended the education sector reforms programme introduced by the Punjab chief minister and described it result-oriented. Punjab Education Minister Imran Masood told the meeting that the government had taken practical steps to encourage the public-private partnership in the field of education. A source told Dawn that the decision to introduce composite system in the intermediate examination, besides abolishing practicals was also in pipeline.